'I HE CHASE 235 



CHAPTER IV 



THE CHASE 



IT is difficult to write anything fresh about the chase 

 of the red deer. Actual runs are recorded week after 

 week in the sporting papers ; imaginary ones have 

 been described, and well described, by Dr. Collyns, 

 Whyte Melville, and others. 



As soon as the tufters have got their deer away, 

 they should be stopped that the pack may be laid on. 

 A number of amateur assistants are a great nuisance 

 to those engaged in tufting, but the help of a few who 

 understand the business is most valuable, and this is 

 readily given by the sporting farmers. At one time 

 the huntsman nearly always came back to where the 

 pack was kennelled, to report to the master, and to 

 take his orders as to laying on ; this often gave many 

 extra miles of travelling to the already hard-worked 

 tufters, and also led to much waste of time. Of late 

 years it has been the practice for the master or hunts- 

 man, whichever is on the side where the tufters have 



